Self-erecting cargo pallet lock

ABSTRACT

A cargo pallet lock for use in vehicles such as aircraft, trucks, ships, and the like, is described. The lock is used to secure load supporting members or pallets to accommodating floor structures in the vehicles and includes a T-headed palletengaging lock post which is slidably mounted in a body member and is securable to the vehicle floor structure. The lock post is biased toward an elevated end position from a recessed end position and the device also includes latch-release means for releasably holding the lock post in its recessed position after the member has been retracted by manual operation of a retract lever. Upon being released, the lock post snaps to its elevated position where horizontal load forces incident thereon are transferred by novel structure to the body structure of the lock.

United States Patent 1191 Nordstrom Apr. 2, 1974 SELF-ERECTING CARGOPALLET LOCK [22] Filed: Jan. 18, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 324,828

52 us. c1. .[105/369 A, 244/118, 248/119 R 51 1111.01. B60p 7/08, A44b21/00, B65j 1/22 [58] Field of Search...l05/369 A; 248/361 A, 119 R;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,204,581 9/1965 Davidson105/369 A 3,210,038 10/1965 Bader et al. 105/369 A 3,282,550 11/1966Warren 105/369 A 3,377,040 4/1968 Hansen 105/369 A 3,381,921 5/1968McDonough ct 11.. 105/369 A 3,486,204 12/1969 Hurtner et a1. 1 105/369 A3,641,940 2/1972 Evans 105/369 A 3,693,920 9/1972 Trautman 105/369 APrimary Examiner-Drayton E. Hoffman Attorney, Agent, or Firm-JohnHoltrichter, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A cargo pallet lock for use in vehicles such as aircraft,trucks, ships, and the like, is described. The lock is used to secureload supporting members or pallets to accommodating floor structures inthe vehicles and includes a T-headed pallet-engaging lock post which isslidably mounted in a body member and is securable to the vehicle floorstructure. The lock post is biased toward an elevated end position froma recessed end position and the device also includes latch-release meansfor releasably holding the lock post in its recessed position after themember has been retracted by manual operation of a retract lever. Uponbeing released, the lock post snaps to its elevated position wherehorizontal load forces incident thereon are transferred by novelstructure to the body structure of the lock.

16 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 2M4 SHiU 2 BF 2 III. lull.

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SELF-ERECTING CARGO PALLET LOCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thebackground of the invention will be set forth in two parts.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains generally to thefield of cargo transportation and more particularly to cargo palletlocks for securing load supporting members in vehicles, but isparticularly adapted for use in aircraft.

DESCRIPTION -OI THE PRIOR ART When vehicles are used to transport cargo,it is desirable that the load be containerized or palletizedtofacilitate rapid loading and removal of the cargo from the vehicle,especially aircraft. When the cargo is in the aircraft, it is veryimportant that the pallet be securely fastened to the floor structure ofthe craft to prevent shifting of the load and consequent damage to theaircraft, its crew, and to the cargo therein. during normal flightconditions, including in-flight gust loading as well as adverse landingconditions and otherwise survivable crash conditions.

It is often necessary or desirable to use some aircraft for both cargoand passenger service. Of course, when the airplane is being used fortransporting cargo, it is desirable to have a major portion of the floorof the airplane open to receive the cargo. In converting an aircraftfrom cargo to passenger service, it is necessary to install seats on thefloor area which had heretofore been used for cargo. Prior artconvertible aircraft of this type have a major drawback in thatconsiderable time is required to convert the airplane from cargo topassenger service. One of the primary reasons for this is that portionsof the pallet supporting structure of the aircraft had to be removed toallow installation of the seats. The seats are then installedindividually and this requires additional time. This wasted time isparticularly significant when the particular aircraft must be frequentlyconverted between passenger and cargo service. Of course, a similarlarge amount of time is used when converting passenger service back tocargo service.

It has been found that aircraft can be more rapidly changed from cargoto passenger service and vice-versa by palletizing the passenger seats,utilizing a pallet supporting structure which will receive either orboth cargo pallets and seat pallets, and by providing an extendable andretractable lock mechanism for securing the pallets. It is of coursevery important that the pallets be securely fastened to the vehicle. Forexample, in the case of a loose cargo pallet, damage to the cargo or theaircraft, or injury to the airplane crew, may result therefrom.

Many systems of the type described employ a plurality of tracks havingrollers thereon over which the seat and/or cargo pallets may be easilyrolled into position. The pallets are held in selected positions alongthe tracks, in part, by several latching means or lock assemblies, eachof which has a latching member that is engagable with a transverse endof the pallet. In the more advantageous of these systems, the latchingmembers are movable to a retracted position so that the pallets can bemoved thereover without interference. Each of the latching members isusually a unitary member and when moved to the locking position, can beutilized'simultaneously to restrain two adjacent pallets. The retractinglatching means disclosed by the earlier prior art to secure adjacentpallets have been extremely costly structures with interlockinglatchable parts to perform the locking function. Later, there wasdeveloped a latch having a solid T-member rotatable about astrength-carrying axis to its engaged position below the top of theroller means.

Although the rotatable T-member configuration is an improvement over thecomplex structures of the earlier art, the latching member has to bemanually rotated and lifted to its elevated position and then lockedthereat by a separate manual movement of the latching member. Thelocking assembly must then be moved longitudinally along the track towhich it is attached until the latching member engages a transverse endof a pallet. In order to release the locking assembly, the latchingmember has to be pushed out of its lock position and the lock pulledaway from the pallet before the member can be manually rotated to itsretracted position. Thus, it should be evident that a new and im provedtechnique for locking cargo pallets and the like to a supporting floorstructure in a vehicle such as aircraft, for example, would constitute asignificant advancement of the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing factors and conditionscharacteristic of the prior art, it is a primary object of the presentinvention to provide a new and improved cargo pallet lock for securing aload supporting member in a vehicle having a supporting floor structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cargo palletlock wherein its lock post member is adapted to simultaneously engageand restrain two adjacent pallets.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cargopallet lock having a unitary T-shape lock post member that isautomatically locked in position to withstand horizontal and verticalload forces incident thereon.

before reaching its elevated end position whereby the pallet is engagedwithout movement of the lock assembly.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide aself-erecting cargo pallet lock including a release mechanism for itsspring-loaded lock post member that is easily actuated and accessiblefrom the top of the lock assembly.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a cargopallet lock having a spring-loaded selferecting lock post member that iseasily retracted to its stowed or retracted position by movement of areadily accessible retract handle.

According to the present invention, a self-erecting cargo pallet lock isprovided for securing a load supporting member in a vehicle having asupporting floor structure. The lock includes a body member securable tothe floor structure below the load supporting surface body member andwith a lock post member for slidably mounting the lock post member tothe body member along an elongated guide path, the lock post memberbeing movable along the guide path between an elevated end position inwhich the lock post member extends upwardly beyond the body member andat least partially into the plane of and lockably engagable with theload supporting member and a retracted end position in which the lockpost member lies below the load supporting member. Further, the deviceincludes bias means mounted in the body member and engaging the lockpost member for biasing the movement of the lock post member along theguide path toward the elevated end position. Mounted in the body memberand operatively coupled to the lock post member is a means for movingthe lock post member along the guide path against the bias force of thebias means to the retracted end position. A latch-release means is alsomounted in the body member and engageable with the lock post member forreleasably holding the lock post member at the retracted end position.

The invention may further include load transfer means in the body memberand engageable with the lock post member for transferring horizontalload forcesincident on the lock post member to the body member when thelock post member is in its elevated end position.

Guide grooves may be disposed in the side walls of a recess in the bodymember wherein at least a portion of the lock post member is at alltimes disposed, the groove defining a guide path and slidably acceptingguide follower arms extending from the sides of the lock post member.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The presentinvention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood bymaking reference to the following description, taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tolike elements in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a cargo pallet lock constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional representation in elevation and partially brokenawayof the cargo pallet lock shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevation similar to that illustrated in FIG. 2, butshowing the lock post retracted;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cargo pallet lock shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the cargo pallet lock bodyillustrating a lock post release assembly in accordance with anotherembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is an elevational representation showing a lock post and abuttingforward fixture configured in accordance with still another embodimentof the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT to FIG. 1, there is shown acargo pallet lock assembly ll constructed in accordance with the presentinvention. The assembly 11 includes a body member 13 having a pair ofside plates 15 spaced by a forward fixture l7 and a rearwardly disposedguide block 19. The spacing of the side plates 15 defines an elongatedbody recess 21 in which is movably disposed a lock post member 23 havinga generally upstanding T-shaped head portion 25 and a longitudinallyextending shank portion 27.

The body member, in this embodiment, is an assembly of the partsmentioned and held together by suitable bolts 29, nuts 31, and machinescrews 33, for example, although other attachment means such as weldingmay be employed. The rear bolt 29A also serves as a pivot post for ajoumalled transverse tubular portion of a retract lever 35, the handlealso having a reduced width neck portion 37 and a broad width shankportion 39 leading to a transversely disposed T-shaped handle or latchbar 41. In its normal position, shown in FIG. 1, the shank portion 39and the latch bar portion 41 lie essentially in a horizontal plane flushwith the upper edges 43 of the side plates 15, the latch bar 41 beingseated in conforming notches 45 in the plates upper edges, 43.

Referring now also to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the lock post member 23 isshown movably mounted in the body member 13 and guided along apre-determined path by forward and rear cam follower arms 47 and 49which extend from the sides of the member 23 into and are movablycaptured by respective forward and rear elongated cam grooves 51 and 53in the inner walls 55 of the side plates 15. The rear grooves 53 aredisposed near the bodys lower surface 57 and are essentially horizontal(see FIG. 2). The forward grooves, on the other hand, define an upwardand forward extending smoothly curved path, the upper portion beinggenerally horizontal for a pre-determined distance such as aboutone-half inch, for example (see FIG. 3).

The lock post member 23 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in its most forward,elevated end position where its head portion 25, with its overhangingflanges 59 and 61, is able to engage and restrain a downstreamtransverse end of a cargo pallet, as generally outlined by dashed line63, and simultaneously an upstream transverse end of an adjacent cargopallet, shown as dashed outline 65 in FIG. 2.

The lock post member 23 is preferably cast or machined from a light butstrong metal, and is provided with an elongated vertical slot 67 alongits shank portion 27 so as to accommodate the movement of a pair ofspaced lock post retract links 69 and an elongated bias spring assembly71. The member 23 further is shown provided with a vertical loantransfer ledge 73 in the upper surface of the shank portion 27. In theelevated end position of the lock post member, the ledge abuts an outerend surface 75 of the latch bar 41 so that any load incident on the headportion 25 and directed toward the rear of the assembly 11 will betransferred to the latch bar 41, which in turn, will transfer the loadto the body member 13 by virtue of the latch bar being seated in theshape conforming notches 45.

The member 23 is biased-to move in a generally forward direction towardthe aforementioned elevated end position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thebias means, in this embodiment, is the spring assembly 71 which includesan elongated compression spring 77 mounted about and captured by atelescoping spring guide rod and sleeve arrangement 79 that is pivotallyanchored by a pin 81 at its forward end in the apexof the lock postmembers elongated slot 67, and at its rear end by a depending bracket 83of a spring retainer member 85 mounted by simple pins, for example, justbelow the body plates upper edges 43.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the lock post retracting operation of theassembly 11. Prior to such operation, the retract lever 35 lies in itsnormal seated position as urged by a bias coil spring 87 mounted aboutthe rear bolt 29A and anchored at its ends by a plate mounted pin 89 andby a handle mounted pin 91. Upon being lifted and rotated toward therear of the assembly, the lock post member is pulled backwards, againstthe bias force of the elongated spring 77, by means of the retract links69. These links are coupled between the lever 35 and the lock postmember 23 by link coupling pins 93 extending from opposite sides of abracket portion 95 of the lever 35 and slidably captured in elongatedslots 97 in the links 69, and by individual linkmounted forward pins 99suitably extending into holes 101 in the inner sides of the lock postmember slot 67.

The retract operation first causes the lock post head portion 25 to movehorizontally in a rearward direction for the previously mentionedpre-determined distance to easily disengage from the transverse end of apallet 63 (after the adjacent pallet 65 has been removed). At thispoint, the retract lever 35 will be in approximately the positionindicated in FIG. 2 by dashed outline 35A, and the lock posts headportion will be approximately situated as indicated by dashed outline25A. Further rotation of the lever 35 to its final position shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, causes the lock post member 23 to follow the path definedby the forward and rear cam grooves 51 and 53 to its retracted endposition in the recess 21.

The lock post member is releasably held in the retracted configurationby a latch-release pin 103 slidably mounted in a horizontal bore 105 ina plate 15. The pin is located opposite the position of the retract lockposts head portion 25 (FIG. 3) and has an upper sloping surface 107 anda lower straight surface 109 at its inner end 111, and a reduceddiameter or notched section 113 adjacent its outer end 115. A forked end117 of a latch release lever 119 is disposed in the notched section 113and the lever 119 is loosely anchored at a point intermediate its endsby an anchor bolt 121. Upon being retracted, the side of the head'sforward flange 59 engages the latch release pins sloping surface 107 andpushes the pin outwardly before sliding by its end 111. Once the head 25is beyond the pin 103, the pin is urged back to its original position bythe bias action of a compression spring 123 mounted in appropriaterecesses (not shown) in the plate and the latch release lever 119, asbest illustrated in FIG. 4.

When the retract lever 35 is then released, the spring 87 causes thelever to rotate forward until its latch bar portion 41 is seated in thenotches 45. The lock post member 23 is now restrained from movingforward under the influence of the bias means because its upper Ibecause its coupling pins 93 may slide in the elongated slots 97 of theretract links 69.

To release the member 23 and allow it to snap forward and upwardly toits elevated end position, only a nominal amount of pressure need beapplied to the outer surface of the latch release lever 119, asindicated by arrow 125. Such pressure causes the lever 1 19 to rockabout its fulcrum at the bolt 121 which moves its forward end 117 awayfrom the plate 15 and pulls the pin 103 in an outward direction.

Altemately, the latch release pin and its activating lever may belocated elsewhere in the body member 13 to releasably hold the lock postmember 23 in its retracted end position. For example, in the embodimentof the invention illustrated in FIG. 5, an elongated pin 131 having aninner hemispherical end 133 and a reduced diameter section 135 adjacentan outer end 137 may be slidably disposed in a horizontal bore 139, inthe general area of the guide block 19. A bent latch release lever 141is suitably connected to the pin 131 at the reduced diameter section 135and is loosely anchored by an anchor pin 143 at a point spaced from theends thereof, about which point the lever 141 rocks when inwardlydirected pressure is applied to the levers trigger end 145 against theoutwardly directed bias force exerted thereon by a compression spring147 mounted between the end 145 and the plate 15.

In operation, the inner end 133 of the pin 131 bears upon and slidesalong the outer surface of the lock posts shank portion 27 until, at theretracted end position, the pin 131 may enter a retaining depression orbore 147 in the shank portion. The bias force provided by the spring 147will maintain the pin 131 in the bore 149 until the pin is pulled out bymanual pressure on the levers trigger end 145. It will also be notedthat in this embodiment, the trigger end 145 is disposed adjacent theupper edge of the body member 13 for easy access thereto by an operator.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present inventionillustrated in FIG. 6, horizontal loan forces directed in a forwarddirection may be even more suitably dealt with by providing conformingvertical loan transferring surfaces 171 and 173 respectively on an upperportion 175 of the forward fixture 17 and on the lower section of thelock post members head portion 25.

The cargo pallet lock assembly 11 is adapted to be readily mounted inand moved along a conventional longitudinal track in a load-supportingvehicle floor structure. For simplicity, such conventional trackstructures are not herein illustrated. The floor structure generallyincludes two such tracks in spaced-parallel relationship longitudinallythrough the vehicle, each track having a relatively narrow elongatedslot centrally located in its upper surface and communicating with arelatively wider interior track groove or cavity. Also, accuratelyspaced arcuate cutout portions are disposed along the track to acceptconventional mounting arrangements.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the mounting arrangement of the assembly 11includes a pair of longitudinallyaligned lugs 181 having a reduceddiameter neck portion 183 dimensioned to just slide along the tracksslot, and an increased diameter lower end portion 185. The

lugs depend from the rear portion of the forward fixture l7 and arespaced and their end portions 185 are dimensioned to readily enter anytwo adjacent ones of the cutout portions in the track before being movedalong the slot a short distance to a position where the lugs 181 areabout midway between the cutout portions and captured as to verticalmovement by the track.

In order to releasably hold the lugs 181 in this captured position, apair of longitudinally aligned lock plunger arrangements 187 are mountedin the forward fixture 17 immediately in front of the lugs 181. Each ofthe plunger arrangements include a plunger 189 with a reduced diametershank portion 192 slidably mounted in a vertical bore 183 in the fixture17, and with a lower head portion dimensioned to slidably fit into thetracks cutout portion. Each plunger 189 is biased in a downwarddirection by a coil spring 195 disposed about the shank portion 191, butthe plungers may be lifted to a position within the body of the fixture17 by lifting a handle 197 that engages annular notches 198 adjacent theupper ends of the shank portions 191. The plungers 189 are spaced apartby the same distance that exists between the lugs 181, but are locatedrelative to the lugs 181 to enter adjacent ones of the track cutoutportions only when the lugs 181 are located at the previously describedposition between the cutout portions. The plunger arrangements 187 thusreleasably prevent the assembly 11 from sliding in either longitudinaldirection once the lugs 181 are captured in the interior track groove.It should here be noted that the guide block 19 is dimensioned to extendinto the tracks longitudinal slot to provide lateral stability.

In use of the present invention, a pallet is inserted through the dooropening of a vehicle onto a conventional ball mat and then pushed alongrollers positioned along-side the track in a direction generallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle to the farthest extentpossible, either forward or aft depending on whether the cargo loadingdoor is located in the rear or forward part of the vehicle. At the endof the desired travel, the first of such pallets is retained at itsupstream transverse end by usually a plurality of conventional terminallocks. As the pallet moves over the recessed track,

it also passes over any cargo pallet lock assemblies 11 that arereleasably fixed to the track, the lock assemblies being in theirretracted configuration. Once the pallet reaches the terminal locks, andif the assemblies 11 are in a proper position with respect to thelongitu dinal dimension of the pallet, the loading personnel need onlypress the latch release lever to free the lock post member 23 so that itmoves upward and along its predetermined path where it engages andrestrains the pallets downstream transverse end. The next pallet is thenpushed along the track, over the retracted lock assemblies 11, until itsupstream transverse end engages the first elevated lock post member. Thenext assembly is then actuated to restrict the pallets vertical andlongitudinal movement, and so on until all the pallets are secure.

The materials used in this fabrication of the various embodiments of theinvention are not considered critical and any material generallyconsidered satisfactory for a particular use or function may beutilized.

From the foregoing, it should be evident that there has herein beendescribed a self-erecting cargo pallet lock that overcomes manydisadvantages of the prior art and which constitutes a significantadvancement of the art.

Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, changes and modifica- 8 tions and other embodiments of theinventory may be made by one having ordinary skills in the art withoutnecessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A self-erecting cargo pallet lock for securing a load supportingmember in a vehicle having a supporting floor structure, comprising thecombination of:

a lock post member;

a body member securable to the floor structure below the load supportingsurface thereof and adjacent the load supporting member;

guide means associated with said body member and said lock post memberfor slidably mounting said lock post member to said body member along anelongated guide path, said lock post member being movable along saidguide path between an elevated end position in which said lock postmember extends upwardly beyond said body member and at least partiallyinto the plane of and lockably engagable with the load supporting memberand a retracted end position in which said lock post member lies belowthe load supporting member;

bias means mounted in said body member and engaging said lock postmember for biasing the member of said lock post member along said guidepath toward said elevated end position;

retract means mounted in said body member and 0peratively coupled tosaid lock post member for moving said lock post member along said guidepath against the bias force of said bias means to said retract endposition; and

latch-release means mounted in said body member and engagable with saidlock post member for releasably holding said lock post member at saidretract end position.

2. The cargo pallet lock according to claim 1, also comprising loadtransfer means in said body member and engageable with said lock postmember for transfering horizontal load forces incident on said lock postmember to said body member when said lock post member is in saidelevated end position.

3. The cargo pallet lock according to claim 2, wherein said body memberhas an elongated recess therein and at least a portion of said lock postmember is at all times movably disposed in said recess, and wherein saidguide means includes guide grooves in the side walls of said recessdefining said guide path, said guide means also including guide followerarms extending from the sides of said lock post member into said guidegrooves.

4. The cargo pallet lock according to claim 3, wherein said guide pathsdefined by said guide grooves is configured to cause at least a headportion of said lock post member extending beyond said body member whenthe latter is in said elevated end position to move a pre-determineddistance in a horizontal position before descending into said recesswhen said retract means is first actuated to retract said lock postmember from said elevated end position.

5. The cargo pallet lock according to claim 4, wherein said lock postmember is of unitary construction with said head portion longitudinallyextending from the bottom of said shank portion, said head portionhaving essentially a T-configuration and said shank portion carryingsaid follower arms.

6. The cargo pallet lock according to claim 5, wherein said followerarms include a first set of two axially aligned and oppositely extendingposts at a forward end of said shank portion and a second set of axiallyaligned and oppositely extending posts at a rear end of said shankportion.

7. The cargo pallet lock according to claim 6, wherein said guide pathfollowed by said second set of posts is essentially horizontal, andwherein said guide path followed by said first set of posts isdiagonally inclined upwardly in the general direction of movement ofsaid lock post member urged by said bias means, the diagonal inclinationterminating in a horizontal path equal in length to said pre-determineddistance.

8. The cargo pallet lock according to claim 3, wherein said retractmeans includes a retract lever pivotally mounted in said body member anda linkage assembly operatively coupled to said retract lever and to saidshank portion of said lock post member to pull said lock post memberalong said guide path against said bias force and toward said retractend position when said retract lever is manually operated.

9. The cargo pallet lock according to claim 8, wherein said bias meansincludes a compression spring assembly anchored at one end by said bodymember and anchored at another end by said shank portion of said lockpost member, said compression spring being disposed about a telescopingtube assembly.

10. The cargo pallet lock according to claim 3, wherein saidlatch-release means includes a release pin slidably mounted in said bodymember and extending into said recess and thereat engageable with saidlockpost member to prevent movement thereof, said latchrelease meansalso including a bias release lever mechanism pivotally mounted on saidbody member and operatively coupled to said release pin whereby manualoperation of said release lever moves said release pin out of engagementwith said lock post member.

11. The cargo pallet lock according to claim 10, wherein said releasepin is engageable with the upper surface of said head portion of saidlock post member.

12. The cargo pallet lock according to claim 10, wherein said releasepin is engageable with a side surface of said shank portion of said lockpost member.

13. The cargo pallet lock according to claim 8, wherein said retractlever is pivoted at a first end thereof about a horizontal axis ofrotation, said axis of rotation being disposed adjacent an end of saidbody member most removed from said head portion and orthogonal to thedirection of movement of said lock post member as seen in a verticalplane, said retract means also including a return spring anchored insaid body member and engaging said retract lever to bias said retractlever to rotate in an arc above said body member and toward said headportion of said lock post member.

14. The cargo pallet lock according to claim 13, wherein said retractlever includes a transverse handle portion extending beyond both sidesof and engageable with said body member, said body member includinghandle portion conforming transverse notches in the walls thereof onopposite aligned sides of said recess wherein said handle portion isseatable.

15. The cargo pallet lock according to claim 14, wherein said loadtransfer means includes a vertical load transfer surface in an uppersurface of said shank portion of said lock post member, said loadtransfer surface being juxtaposed a conforming outer extremity surfaceof said handle portion when said handle portion is seated in saidtransverse notches in said body member whereby horizontal load forcesincident on said head portion of said lock post member in the directionopposite that urged by said bias means thereon are transferred throughsaid handle portion to said body portion.

16. The cargo pallet lock according to claim 3, wherein said loadtransfer means also includes a vertical load transfer shoulder in an endof said recess accommodating said head portionof said lock post member,and further includes a shoulder-conforming surface at a lower end ofsaid head portion that is juxtaposed said shoulder when said lock postmember is in said elevated end position whereby horizontal load forcesincident on said head portion in the direction urged by said bias meansthereon are transferred directly to said body member.

1. A self-erecting cargo pallet lock for securing a load supportingmember in a vehicle having a supporting floor structure, comprising thecombination of: a lock post member; a body member securable to the floorstructure below the load supporting surface thereof and adjacent theload supporting member; guide means associated with said body member andsaid lock post member for slidably mounting said lock post member tosaid body member along an elongated guide path, said lock post memberbeing movable along said guide path between an elevated end position inwhich said lock post member extends upwardly beyond said body member andat least partially into the plane of and lockably engagable with theload supporting member and a retracted end position in which said lockpost member lies below the load supporting member; bias means mounted insaid body member and engaging said lock post member for biasing themember of said lock post member along said guide path toward saidelevated end position; retract means mounted in said body member andoperatively coupled to said lock post member for moving said lock postmember along said guide path against the bias force of said bias meansto said retract end position; and latch-release means mounted in saidbody member and engagable with said lock post member for releasablyholding said lock post member at said retract end position.
 2. The cargopallet lock according to claim 1, also comprising load transfer means insaid body member and engageable with said lock post member fortransfering horizontal load forces incident on said lock post member tosaid body member when said lock post member is in said elevated endposition.
 3. The cargo pallet lock according to claim 2, wherein saidbody member has an elongated recess therein and at least a portion ofsaid lock post member is at all times movably disposed in said recess,and wherein said guide means includes guide grooves in the side walls ofsaid recess defining said guide path, said guide means also includingguide follower arms extending from the sides of said lock post memberinto said guide grooves.
 4. The cargo pallet lock according to claim 3,wherein said guide paths defined by said guide grooves is configured tocause at least a head portion of said lock post member extending beyondsaid body member when the latter is in said elevated end position tomove a pre-determined distance in a horizontal position beforedescending into said recess when said retract means is first actuated toretract said lock post member from said elevated end position.
 5. Thecargo pallet lock according to claim 4, wherein said lock post member isof unitary construction with said head portion longitudinally extendingfrom the bottom of said shank portion, said head portion havingessentially a T-configuration and said shank portion carRying saidfollower arms.
 6. The cargo pallet lock according to claim 5, whereinsaid follower arms include a first set of two axially aligned andoppositely extending posts at a forward end of said shank portion and asecond set of axially aligned and oppositely extending posts at a rearend of said shank portion.
 7. The cargo pallet lock according to claim6, wherein said guide path followed by said second set of posts isessentially horizontal, and wherein said guide path followed by saidfirst set of posts is diagonally inclined upwardly in the generaldirection of movement of said lock post member urged by said bias means,the diagonal inclination terminating in a horizontal path equal inlength to said pre-determined distance.
 8. The cargo pallet lockaccording to claim 3, wherein said retract means includes a retractlever pivotally mounted in said body member and a linkage assemblyoperatively coupled to said retract lever and to said shank portion ofsaid lock post member to pull said lock post member along said guidepath against said bias force and toward said retract end position whensaid retract lever is manually operated.
 9. The cargo pallet lockaccording to claim 8, wherein said bias means includes a compressionspring assembly anchored at one end by said body member and anchored atanother end by said shank portion of said lock post member, saidcompression spring being disposed about a telescoping tube assembly. 10.The cargo pallet lock according to claim 3, wherein said latch-releasemeans includes a release pin slidably mounted in said body member andextending into said recess and thereat engageable with said lock postmember to prevent movement thereof, said latch-release means alsoincluding a bias release lever mechanism pivotally mounted on said bodymember and operatively coupled to said release pin whereby manualoperation of said release lever moves said release pin out of engagementwith said lock post member.
 11. The cargo pallet lock according to claim10, wherein said release pin is engageable with the upper surface ofsaid head portion of said lock post member.
 12. The cargo pallet lockaccording to claim 10, wherein said release pin is engageable with aside surface of said shank portion of said lock post member.
 13. Thecargo pallet lock according to claim 8, wherein said retract lever ispivoted at a first end thereof about a horizontal axis of rotation, saidaxis of rotation being disposed adjacent an end of said body member mostremoved from said head portion and orthogonal to the direction ofmovement of said lock post member as seen in a vertical plane, saidretract means also including a return spring anchored in said bodymember and engaging said retract lever to bias said retract lever torotate in an arc above said body member and toward said head portion ofsaid lock post member.
 14. The cargo pallet lock according to claim 13,wherein said retract lever includes a transverse handle portionextending beyond both sides of and engageable with said body member,said body member including handle portion conforming transverse notchesin the walls thereof on opposite aligned sides of said recess whereinsaid handle portion is seatable.
 15. The cargo pallet lock according toclaim 14, wherein said load transfer means includes a vertical loadtransfer surface in an upper surface of said shank portion of said lockpost member, said load transfer surface being juxtaposed a conformingouter extremity surface of said handle portion when said handle portionis seated in said transverse notches in said body member wherebyhorizontal load forces incident on said head portion of said lock postmember in the direction opposite that urged by said bias means thereonare transferred through said handle portion to said body portion. 16.The cargo pallet lock according to claim 3, wherein said load transfermeans also includes a vertical load transfer shoulder in an end of saidrecess accommodating said head portion oF said lock post member, andfurther includes a shoulder-conforming surface at a lower end of saidhead portion that is juxtaposed said shoulder when said lock post memberis in said elevated end position whereby horizontal load forces incidenton said head portion in the direction urged by said bias means thereonare transferred directly to said body member.